Roy Harris

Roy Harris (1898-1979)

Nationality: American
Born: February 12, 1898, Chandler, OK Died: October 1, 1979, Santa Monica, CA (age 81)
wikipedia

String Quartet No. 2, Three Variations on a Theme

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)
Duration: 18 minutes (approximately)
Composed: 1933 (age 34-35)
1 recording, 1 videos
18:30
Emerson String Quartet

Related Composers

1900 WWI WWII Arthur Bliss (1891-1975) Roy Harris (1898-1979)
Arthur Bliss
Arthur Bliss (1891-1975)
Teacher
Nationality: English
Born: August 2, 1891, London Died: March 27, 1975, London (age 83)

glossary

  • chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
  • quartet, quatuor [F], quartett [G], quartetto [I], cuarteto [S]—ensemble or work for four players the most important examples being the string quartet and the piano quartet
  • string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S], vonósnégyes [H]—an ensemble as well as music written for that ensemble comprising 2 violins, viola and cello. This is one of the essential genres / forms / ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical "core" of "classical" music.
    Explore the string quartet.
  • tema con variazioni, con variazioni, Tema e variazioni, theme and variations, Thema mit Variationen [G], Thème varié [F]—a common movement form featuring an initial theme followed by a series of variations on that theme, each of which adjusts any number of parameters to achieve variety, e.g. tempo, rhythm, key, instrumentation, etc.A challenge to the composers ingenuity and a delight for the listener
  • theme, tema [I], Thema [G]—a complete and recognizable musical entity (e.g. melody) used as the basis for elaboration (e.g. variations, sontata, fugue, etc.). Also called a subject. Motif (motive) is generally a smaller fragmentary entity.
  • variation, variazione, variatio, variato, variata—a modified re-iteration of a previous theme, reprise, couplet, etc. The music is varied, embellished or creatively transformed for variety while maintaining a unity relationship with the original. See "Theme and Variations."